Witnesses: Jail guards mocked dying inmate

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EVERETT, Wash.-- Rose Saffioti is trying to make the best of Friday night. She's keeping busy at her family restaurant along Mukilteo speedway, but mostly, she's thinking of her son Michael.

"When I have to sleep at night, and close my eyes, it's hard," she said. "Believe me, when I got the call that my son was dead -- I couldn't even -- like, why? Something was wrong."

Earlier this year, Michael went to the Snohomish County jail for one night. He had missed a court date and turned himself in.

He was asthmatic, had anxiety problems and self-medicated with marijuana to calm down. But he didn't have a medical card and it got him into trouble.

Michael was also acutely allergic to dairy. And that early morning changed everything.

"It was really hard to hear," Saffioti said.

In newly-released witness statements from other inmates, Saffioti's legal team alleges Michael was fed oatmeal that contained milk. He became violently ill.

Witnesses claim that Michael turned on his cell's emergency light as he and inmates begged for help and pounded on doors to get attention. They believed the allergic attack was preventable -- and got mocked.